A Right Trek up the Trent

 We set off at a little after 0900 as we had a date at West Stockwith

We got underway a bit after 0900 as we had a date at West Stockwith at 1200.

This section of the Chesterfield always seems to be the slowest, whether that is because you have just arrived and not used to it's ways, or you are hurrying to get to West Stockwith for an appointment, or it may have something to do with the reeds!

We got to our destinatio in good time to get our glad rags on and head down to the White Hart for lunch we had booked when we were last here. It was very nice and would sustain us on our trip up the Trent. The winch in the foreground was used to winch the sailing keels and sloops in to the lock after a rope had been sculled ashore by their cog boat.

After our meal we filled up with water and then went in to the ready lock. First of flood was supposed to be 1440 but there was already a rise and they had our draft over the cill so we got off straight away. It was 1430 when we cleared the lock and set off with the flood. I must say there wasn't much in the tide and we struggled to make a decent speed. It was quite tame going round Morton Bight above, as I was half expecting to fight to keep off the concrete!

By Gainsborough we had been over taken by two cruisers that must have come from Keadby, or even further north. There were lots of folk pout and about who wanted a wave. So we obliged.

Trent Port came and went. It didn't seem that long since we were heading in the opposite direction for Thorne and our winter moorings.

The reaches and points have some fine names. Just above Dunham Bridge is the red bank called Dunham Dubbs and the straight along which the sheep are spread is known as Lollipop Alley!

This around the bends getting towards Sutton on Trent with another strange name of 'Milking Boat'!

At 1900 I called the lock keeper at Cromwell Lock to let him know that we wouldn't be there by 2000, as that was his knocking off time. I confirmed that there would be enough space for us on the pontoon, outside and plugged away, ever southwards. The sun was going down and gave us some lovely salmon pink skies.

s we cleared Besthorpe New Gravel Jetty the sun was setting and we were pleased to make fast at 2050, 6hrs and 20  ins since leaving West Stockwith. A long old flog. To get our end on the pontoon I had to swing, but we were glad to be alongside and celebrated with a hot chocholate!. The Lock keeper comes on at 0800, so I suppose I will have to be up and ready for then!